And now that these important observations have been made, it will be well to add that the battalions sent there during the days in which the events of our story took place did not go to parade through the streets, but for another purpose which will be clearly and minutely set forth later on. As a detail of no little interest, it may be noted that the events here related took place at a period neither very remote nor very recent. It may also be said that Orbajosa (called by the Romans Urbs Augusta, although some learned moderns, enquiring into the etymology of the termination /ajosa/[*] are of the opinion that it comes by it from being the richest garlic-growing country in the world) is neither very near Madrid nor very far from it; nor can we say whether its glorious foundations are laid toward the north or toward the south, toward the east or toward the west; but that it may be supposed to be in any part of Spain where the pungent odor of its garlic is to be perceived.
[*] Rich in garlic.
The billets of residence being distributed by the authorities, each soldier went to seek his borrowed home. They were received by their hosts with a very ill grace and assigned the most atrociously uninhabitable parts of the houses. The girls of the city were not indeed among those who were most dissatisfied, but a strict watch was kept over them, and it was considered not decent to show pleasure at the visit of such rabble. The few soldiers who were natives of the district only were treated like kings. The others were regarded as invaders.
At eight in the morning a lieutenant-colonel of cavalry entered the house of Dona Perfecta Polentinos with his billet. He was received by the servants, by order of its mistress, who, being at the time in a deplorable state of mind, did not wish to go down stairs to meet the soldier, and by them he was shown to the only room in the house which, it seemed, was disposable, the room occupied by Pepe Rey.
"Let them settle themselves as best they can," said Dona Perfecta, with an expression of gall and vinegar. "And if they have not room enough, let them go into the street."
Was it her intention to annoy in this way her detested nephew, or was there really no other unoccupied room in the house? This we do not know, nor do the chronicles from which this true history is taken say a word on this important point. What we know positively is that, far from displeasing the two guests to be thus boxed up together, it gave them great pleasure, as they happened to be old friends. They were greatly surprised and delighted when they met, and they were never tired of asking each other questions and uttering exclamations, dwelling on the strange chance that had brought them together in such a place and on such an occasion.
"Pinzon--you here! Why, what is this? I had no suspicion that you were in this neighborhood."
"I heard that you were in this part of the country, Pepe; but I had no idea, either, that I should meet you in this horrible, this barbarous Orbajosa."
"But what a fortunate chance! For this chance is most fortunate--providential. Pinzon, between us both we are going to do a great thing in this wretched town."
"And we shall have time enough to consult about it," answered the other, seating himself on the bed in which the engineer was lying, "for it appears that we are both to occupy this room. What the devil sort of a house is this?"
"Why, man, it is my aunt's. Speak with more respect about it. Have you not met my aunt? But I am going to get up."
"I am very glad of it, for then I can lie down and rest; and badly I need it. What a road, friend Pepe, what a road, and what a town!"
"Tell me, have you come to set fire to Orbajosa?"
"Fire!"
"I ask you because, in that case, I might help you."
"What a town! But what a town!" exclaimed the soldier, removing his shako, and laying aside sword and shoulder-belt, travelling case and cloak. "This is the second time they have sent us here. I swear to you that the third time I will ask my discharge."
"Don't talk ill of these good people! But you have come in the nick of time. It seems as if Providence has sent you to my aid, Pinzon. I have a terrible project on hand, an adventure,--a plot, if you wish to call it so, my friend,--and it would have been difficult for me to carry it through without you. A moment ago I was in despair, wondering how I should manage, and saying to myself anxiously, 'If I only had a friend here, a good friend!' "
"A project, a plot, an adventure! One of two things, Senor Mathematician: it is either the discovery of aerial navigation, or else some love affair."
"It is serious, very serious. Go to bed, sleep a while, and afterward we will talk about it."
"I will go to bed, but I will not sleep. You may say all you wish to me. All that I ask is that you will say as little as possible about Orbajosa."
"It is precisely about Orbajosa that I wish to speak to you. But have you also an antipathy to this cradle of illustrious men?"
"These garlic-venders--we call them the garlic-venders--may be as illustrious as you choose, but to me they are as irritating as the product of the country. This is a town ruled by people who teach distrust, superstition, and hatred of the whole human race. When we have leisure I will relate to you an occurrence--an adventure, half-comic, half-tragic--that happened to me here last year. When I tell it to you, you will laugh and I shall be fuming. But, in fine, what is past is past."
"In what is happening to me there is nothing comic."
